UNITED WAY DAY OF ACTION, JUNE 21

UNITED WAY DAY OF ACTION, JUNE 21
Bring the Family to a Born Learning Trail Near You!

On June 21, the longest day of the year, United Way of Greater Cincinnati (UWGC) will join United Ways across the country in its first annual United Way Day of Action. This event is part of United Way’s new LIVE UNITED campaign and serves as a call-to-action for individuals to come together in collective efforts to make needed changes in their communities.

“Advancing the common good means recognizing that we are all connected and interdependent. It involves creating opportunities for a better life for all. When individuals, organizations, governments and businesses set aside their special interests and work together, we can make a difference. Living United means being part of the change,” says United Way of Greater Cincinnati president Robert C. Reifsnyder.

UWGC will unveil five brand new Born Learning Trails across several counties in celebration of early childhood education. The project was completed in conjunction with community partners Cincinnati Parks, City of Bellevue, City of Covington Parks & Recreation, Boone County Parks Department, Grant County Parks & Recreation, and corporate partners Citi and Toyota in Northern Kentucky. Born Learning Trails provide fun, physical activities to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities for our community’s children.

Besides walking the trail, families participating in United Way Day of Action will discover a variety of activities to entertain and inform them about community resources helping kids grow into successful adults. The Born Learning Trails and the times of their events are:

• Drake Park in Kennedy Heights from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – The Nutrition Council, a United Way agency partner, will be whipping up a healthy snack station, where kids and parents can create their own tasty treats while learning about good eating habits. Children can also meet Kennedy Heights police officers and firefighters and check out all their gear and safety equipment. The Kennedy Heights Art Center will give children a chance to get in touch with their creativity through a fun art activity.

• Bellevue Beach Park in Campbell County from 9 a.m. to noon – A dental van will be on site to offer key tips and tricks to keeping those pearly whites shining. Children and parents can also enjoy cornhole, a coloring station, and kids can enjoy other fun activities.

• Central Park & Arboretum in Boone County from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Cooperative Extension will offer a number of snacks that showcase nutrition education. A library mobile unit will make a stop at the park, handing out free book bags and offering story time to entertain children. Experts from the Boone County Health Department will be on hand to give out free children’s dental kits and educational information to families.


• Devou Park in Covington (near Beringer-Crawford Museum) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Local songwriter and performer, David Kisor, will belt out popular children’s tunes while your kids sing along. A dental van will be on site to offer key tips and tricks to keeping children’s teeth shining. Children can also take advantage of a puppet show, face painting and other fun games and activities.

• Grant County Park in Crittenden from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Parents and children can pick up some free books and tasty food. The fire department will be on hand to show off the big ladders on their trucks and investigators will demonstrate a mock search-and-rescue dog demonstration. Families can also make hand puppets, practice letter writing with shaving cream, win door prizes and enjoy a drive-in movie at dusk.

Our community will be joining people all across the country who are going to take action on June 21—the longest day of the year—demonstrating how they LIVE UNITED by giving, advocating and volunteering.

United Way is also asking people to spread the word about a valuable service in our community—United Way 211— as part of this Day of Action. United Way 211 provides assistance to countless individuals throughout our region each and every day helping ensure they have opportunities for a good life. It’s an easy to remember telephone number (dial 2-1-1) that, where available, connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities. Visit www.uwgc.org/dayofaction to learn how you can participate.